Zendaya reveals how she penned her mature response to the Fashion Police 'racism' row… but proves she's still a goofy teen at heart by pulling silly faces on TV
Zendaya put on a show of maturity when she responded to the 'racist' comments made about her dreadlocks at the Oscars in February.
The 18-year-old actress discussed how she reacted methodically to remarks from Fashion Police host Giuliana Rancic during an appearance on Good Morning America in New York on Wednesday.
However, she also proved she's still a teen at heart by pulling a number of silly faces while on camera.
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In the spotlight: Zendaya made an appearance on Good Morning America in New York on Wednesday
Zendaya was seen puckering her lips as though she had eaten a sour lemon, doing a duck face while posing with fellow guest Michiel Huisman, and sticking out her tongue Miley Cyrus style.
However, the K.C. undercover star took on a more serious tone when discussing her reaction to the dreadlocks comments.
'Honestly at that point, it wasn't really about me. I had to stop myself from being ignorant and being a kid,' she said.
Getting goofy: The 18-year-old actress proved she's still a teen at heart by pulling a number of silly faces while on camera
In good company: She made a duck face while posing with Game Of Thrones star Michiel Huisman and a puppy in the studio
Sheers for spring! Get in style like Zendaya in a Self Portrait dress
Zendaya shows her poise on the Today show in a girlish but sexy lace dress by Self Portrait. This isn't the first time she's caused quite a stir in a white dress (ahem the Oscars!) and she keeps with what she knows works.
White looks amazing on tanned skin and with all these cut outs, we're just drooling over how healthy and happy she looks. She styles the feminine outfit with a chic top knot. We would also do beachy waves for a more casual feel and imagine this dress with some lace up gladiator heels for that ultra effortless summer look.
Self Portrait is a British brand that has been a huge hit with the style set. Its designs show off just the right about of skin but juxtaposes these flashes of flesh with lady like lace and flared tailoring.
Head over directly to the brand's website for the exact same one Zendaya is wearing or check out the blue version at Net-a-Porter. However if you're looking for something a bit lower priced, we've covered your bases by selecting a few that are less than the price of dinner.
'As a teenager you want to say the first thing that comes out of your mouth and I had to really take my time and think about what my parents taught me, which is – the important things in the world are your voice and your knowledge.'
Giuliana, 40, made a jibe while discussing Zendaya's Oscars look, saying: 'I feel like she smells like patchouli oil ... or maybe weed,' referring to her dreadlocks.
Zendaya used her voice and knowledge to craft a powerful message posted to social media back in February.
She asserted: 'There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair.
Opening up: Zendaya discussed how she avoided reacting impulsively to the 'racist' comments made about her dreadlocks at the Oscars in February
Oh no she didn't: 'I feel like she smells like patchouli oil ... or maybe weed,' Giuliana Rancic said while referring to Zendaya's dreadlocks at the Oscars
Wardrobe change: Zendaya was seen in three different outfits in New York on Wednesday, including a semi-sheer lacy floral dress with nude pumps and a semi-sheer plaid frock with red pumps
'My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of color that our hair is good enough.'
The Disney darling added on GMA: 'Hopefully, whether it be a little girl out there or a young man out there that was able to read that and see positive change and be able to stand up for themselves in any kind of incident in their life, then I did what I'm supposed to do.'
Zendaya later wrote another message accepting Giuliana's public apology, reminding her supporters that hurling counter insults was not the appropriate response.
Beautiful in blue: She kept warm in a bright blue coat with pleated fabric and carried a Louis Vuitton purse
Celebrity duty: Zendaya gave an emotional fan a warm hug as they posed for a selfie
'Body shaming and other hurtful tactics will never get the job done,' she wrote.
'As hard as it was to stop MYSELF from being ignorant and from posting the first mean words that came to my mind because I was hurt, I had to think about the bigger picture.'
Giuliana has cited bad editing and a bad script for the poorly-executed joke she delivered at the Oscars.
'Basically what happened was a joke was written for me that was in reference to the hippie culture,' she said during an interview with Extra earlier this month.
Beautiful in brown: The Disney darling changed into a long brown plaid dress with white pumps
You go girl! Meanwhile, Zendaya will be hosting the Radio Disney Music Awards, which airs on Sunday
'And someone wrote that line, and that's fine, and I'm not blaming him because he truly did write it to be a joke about hippies.'
'It's a bad joke,' host AJ Calloway responded, to which she agreed, saying: 'A bad joke.'
Giuliana added: 'To have my name in headlines that were insinuating that, you know, there were racial undertones, I mean I was horrified, and it was something that I would never expect in my wildest nightmares to happen to me, and it happened.'
Making a statement: 'My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of color that our hair is good enough,' Zendaya has said of her hairstyle at the Oscars
Out and about: Giuliana, pictured at a book signing in LA on April 14, has cited bad editing and a bad script for the poorly-executed joke she delivered at the Oscars
Speaking earlier on the Today show, she continued with her version of what transpired: 'I talked about patchouli oil, which is a hippie perfume.
'And in the editing process, some of the gestures I made, some of the things I said were taken out for time. I made peace signs, I said "bohemian" twice - those were taken out for time.
'So when the joke aired, some people were offended by it. I find racism reprehensible. I don't tolerate it at all. Nor have I ever.'
Meanwhile, Zendaya will be hosting the Radio Disney Music Awards, which airs on Sunday.
Speaking up: Instead of reacting in an 'ignorant' manner and 'like a kid,' Zendaya took her time to craft an eloquent response to the comments made about her hair
Apology accepted: The actress soon wrote another message accepting Giuliana's public apology and reminding her supporters that hurling counter insults was not the appropriate response
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